Minnewaska State Park February Event Calendar

Palisades Interstate Park Commission

Minnewaska State Park Preserve

February 2009 Public Programs


The following public programs will be offered at Minnewaska State Park Preserve in late February:

Saturday, February 21, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Confusing Conifers
Jillian Koehnken will lead this one-mile beginner snowshoe outing. Pitch Pines, White Pines, Hemlocks; they're all green, who can tell the difference? You can! Or you'll be able to after this snowshoe hike. Along the way, participants will learn about the distinguishing characteristics between all those evergreens, and find signs of winter wildlife too!

Sunday, February 22, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Snowshoeing 101
Park naturalist Renee Jones will lead this one-mile adventure along the Beacon Hill Carriageway. Learn the history of the snowshoe, an invention ranked equally important with the wheel! Basic snowshoeing techniques, the history of snowshoes, and other fun facts will be provided at the start of the trip. Along the way, we will look for animal tracks and enjoy the Beacon Hill overlook, which offers a spectacular view of the Hudson Valley and the Catskill Mountains!

Sunday, February 22, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Make Your Own Animal Tracks
Bring the family to the Minnewaska Nature Center for a fun-filled afternoon of plaster animal track-making. Park naturalist Renee Jones will offer a brief presentation on the art of animal tracking, and then lead you in making your own animal track to take home! This program is recommended for children over the age of five.

Tuesday, February 24, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Wellness Walk: Mossy Glenn
A park naturalist will lead this two-mile intermediate snowshoe hike over pristine white rock, through dense deciduous forests, and winding along the beautiful Peter's Kill. This outing offers a variety of terrain, and is a great escape for anyone looking for some tranquility.

Saturday, February 28, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Wildfire and Waterfalls
A park naturalist will lead this moderately challenging snowshoe hike along the Mossy Glen footpath, which meanders along the edge of the Peter's Kill stream. We will return via the Lower Awosting carriageway, which is an easy walk and follows along the edge of the forest fire from last year. Our hike will culminate in a spectacular viewing of the Awosting Falls, which are a beautiful sight in any season.

Please note:

Snowshoes are available to rent at the Park Office in the Peter's Kill area. Please plan to arrive early if you intend to rent snowshoes. For information on snowshoe rental, registering for programs, or for more information, please call the Park Office at 845-255-0752.

Pre-registration is requested for all programs since they are weather contingent. For outings, please wear appropriate clothing and footwear and bring snacks and water. A parent or guardian over the age of 18 years must accompany children wishing to participate in programs.

There is no fee for parking at Minnewaska and there are no additional fees for public programs, unless noted otherwise. The Park is open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Minnewaska State Park Preserve consists of approximately 21,000 acres of wild and scenic land located on Route 44/55, five miles west of the intersection with Route 299 in New Paltz, New York.

For more information and to register for programs, please call the Park Office at 845-255-0752.

Minnewaska State Park Preserve is part of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, which administers 29 parks, parkways, and historic sites for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in New York as well as the Palisades Interstate Park and parkway in New Jersey. For more information about New York State parks and historic sites, please visit www.nysparks.com and for more information about the Palisades Interstate Park parks and historic sites, please visit www.palisadesparksconservancy.org